During America’s Civil War, over 25% of the Union Army’s ranks were filled by immigrants, with German-Americans comprising the single largest ethnic group. Almost 36,000 of the German American soldiers hailed from New York
One of the many German-born New Yorkers who served later became a resident of 97 Orchard Street. In 1865 Captain Adolph Schmager (pictured left) returned from battle and moved to the tenement with his family.
Born in 1822 in Berlin, Schmager immigrated to New York with his wife Wilhelmina in 1853. By 1857, he was working as a piano maker and living in the heart of Kleindeutschland.
In October 1861, Schmager enlisted in the Morgan Rifles, which became part of the Union Army’s 58th Regiment under Colonel Wladimir Kryzanowski. Enlisting as a private, Schmager was ultimately promoted to Captain of Company F of the 58th Regiment. Over the course of the war, the 58th Regiment fought in 17 engagements, including the bloody battle at Gettysburg on July 1-3, 1863.
Why did you join the Tenement Museum?
I visited the Museum to learn more about the history of the Lower East Side. I was moved by the struggles of past immigrants and by the Museum’s mission to promote tolerance for contemporary immigrants. So, I became a member to help support the important work of the Tenement Museum.
What is your favorite tenement tour?
The Baldizzi Family’s story on the Getting By Tour resonated the most. My grandmother was the descendant of Italian immigrants who settled in Boston. The Baldizzis persevered through difficult times because of their sense of family, which reminded me of the stories my grandmother used to share with me.
What is your connection to the Lower East Side?
I am originally from New Hampshire, but I moved to New York two years ago. My fiancée grew up on the Lower East Side and introduced me to its vibrant mix of history and change.
Join The Tenement Museum and help preserve our immigrant heritage.
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The striking photo of Captain Adolph Shmager was provided by the
NY State Military Museum. According to the Military Museum, this is not an official photo: it was taken for a carte de visite (small, inexpensive card portraits invented in the mid-19th Century) that Shmager likely had made to trade with other officers. Shmager’s hat, however, is a mystery; it wasn’t part of a typical captain’s uniform.
Why do you think he was wearing the hat in the photo?
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